Article snippet: MORE is facing an escalating controversy surrounding a whistleblower complaint said to be centered on his communications with Ukraine’s leader. Congress has not seen the complaint, even though Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson determined that the allegations were credible and of “urgent concern.” Here are five things to know about the complaint and the whistleblower process. It’s supposed to protect classified information The intelligence community whistleblower statute is set up to provide a pathway for individuals to come forward with allegations of urgent concern in a way that does not endanger classified information. Atkinson, describing the process in a letter to Congress earlier this month, said it’s supposed to allow those complaining to contact congressional intelligence committees directly. Someone making a complaint would first go to the inspector general (IG) to relay it. The IG for the intelligence community would then spend two weeks conducting a preliminary investigation to determine whether the complaint is both credible and of urgent concern. An urgent concern is considered to be “a serious or flagrant problem, abuse, violation of the law of Executive order, or deficiency,” according to the statute. The IG would then bring this complaint up the chain of command and share their findings with the director of national intelligence (DNI), who would be expected to pass along this information to the congressional oversight commi... Link to the full article to read more